The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-01-08


proof of this, we may notice first, the
case of animals, for they come in under
this unalterable charter of rights. The
world begins, in this day, to look into
the case of these faithful creatures, and
to say wrong is wrong here, too, as
elsewhere. If there is wrong here In
the treatment of these obedient brutes,
it is not here alone. 1t is, first of all,
in the unkind heart of the owner !;
next, it is in the callousness Of public
feeling, and, last of all, in the suffering
of the poor brute itself. Something
must be done, men say, to change the
hard heart of these owners, to arouse
public thought, to kindle public feeling
and relieve this suffering because he
who can look upon suffering unmoved,
is not truly Christian. So we have our
humane societies, our organizations for
the prevention Of cruelty to animals,
and these societies have an extensive
literature, which is broadcast for the
education of the people. Within a
year societies have been formed for
the protection of our song birds and
birds of brilliant plumage against the
vulgar demands of fashion. Society
ladies are being educated into the
thought that they are dishonoring their
religion and themselves, when they are
giving a tender heart and merciful
spirit as the price of some gaudy, out
side adornment.
Again, the fourth commandment en-
acts that all strangers shall be free, and
shall be kindly welcome on that one sa-
cred day What we mean by a stranger
is one who has been previously un-
known to US. A person is not from the
mere fact of being stranger to us an
object of hatred, or aversion. But this
last was exactly the case among all an
cient nations. Obligations of sympa-
thy, of helpfulness, existed only be-
tween blood relations, or at most be-
tween closely related tribes. To the
Jew, the world of humanity consisted
of two classes, Jews and Gentiles. To
the Greek it consisted Of Greeks and
Barbarians. Thei Roman recognized
only himself and his enemy. In his
word Gentle, the Jew included the
Greek. In his word Barbarian, the
Greek included the Jew. Among his
enemies the Roman included them both
To-day the flags Of every nation float
in the breeze the vessels Of all nations
roam all waters unmolested the peo-
pie of all countries come and go with
all courtesy, and the greatest freedom
from one side of the earth to the other.
I submit that this is gain.
In the third place, remark, that
the time was, when all the work of the
world was done by slaves. The iercer,
more warlike nations of the earth we're
the rulers. War was the business of
whole nations of people. The conquerors
marched in upon the conquered, took
possession of their lands and reduced
the inhabitants to slavery. When the
number of slaves was more than was
needful to do the work, they were either
wantonly murdered, or else thrust into
the gladiatorial contests or wild beast
shows, which furnished the amusements
of their masters. When God command
ed that for one day in seven every man
should be free from the despotic author
ity of every other, he inaugurated a Gus
tom, enacted law, which in their slow
working have struck the shackles from
every slave, and made Of every working
man a free man. Early religious
thought demanded that working man
should be free one day in seven. To-day,
religious thought demands that every
working man, without reference to
race or color, shall be free, independ-
ent citizen of the State. Early Chris
tian sentiment demanded that aims
should be given to the poor. To-day
Christian sentiment demands that the
wealth of the world shall be so wisely
and Justly distributed that there shall
be no poor. The law making working
men free one day in seven, has result
ed in making them free entirely and
forever. The great charter of rights
given to working men in the law of
Sinai, is confirmed to them in the eter-
nal principle of Christ's gospel. Love
worketh no ill to its neighbor.
The world of human experience is a
magnificent stage, across which nation
al civilizations pass from time to time.
If, at one time, this world-stage drips
with blood and trembles under the
tramp of slaves, and at another is
strewn with flowers, and echoes the
firm tread of freemen, it is because the
world-thought has changed for the bet
ter. If we take our station to-day in
thought above this stage, what shall we
see2 First, men of science, of wide
learning, of religion, of sweet charity,
leading the way. Following them will
come into sight grand army of indie
pendent freemen, bringing with them
the sacred implements of their toll
Next, little children full of childish joy